Newsletter Issue 2: 2024 Year in Review

Reflections Off the Grid:      Exploration Newsletter – Fourth Quarter, 2024

2024 Year in Review

Dear Adventurers, Explorers and Culture Seekers,

2024 was an incredible year for me. I accomplished so much in my quests to explore and learn about North American Indigenous cultures. This issue of my newsletter will take you through not only the highlights of the year, but also a behind the scenes look at the not so glamorous things, and then my plans or should I say hopes and dreams for the coming year.

Highlights of 2024: An Exploration to remember and reception of a great honor

In the third quarter newsletter, I focused on my August foray into the Inside Passage. As I worked my way north in the passage, this one found me base camping on Hanson Island in the Johnstone Strait just outside of Port Hardy at the northernmost part of Vancouver Island. From there I kayaked and took in majestic marine and wildlife while camping in this remote wilderness. This was one of four goals I had set for this adventure.

Another was experiencing the Great Bear Rainforest for the first time. What a mind-blowing experience that was. I traversed the longest inlet in North America (Knights Inlet) and saw majestic waterfalls, dark and unplumbed forests, and grizzlies foraging the coastline all while learning from my indigenous guide Sherry Moon.

The third goal was to immerse myself in the Indigenous culture of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation (Kwakiutl). I went into detail in the previous newsletter where I wrote about the people, the history and culture, and the trials and tribulations this great nation had endured. Contact me if you would like to read the prior newsletter. My Indigenous guide Thomas Namiss helped me understand how climate change, government regulations and bureaucracy, and even foreign nations disregard for the impact of their actions were great issues these people have that threaten their survival as a culture.

 

The last goal was to simulate a longer, more complex expedition via the use of expedition support. My support came in the form of fellow Explorers Club member; Tom McGuire.

Tom assisted me in transmitting daily weather, water, and environmental conditions so I would have a preview of what to expect. I would then relay back what I was seeing on the ground so he could determine the accuracy of the models that he built and was using. Another part of the experiment was to see how someone in the field can communicate on social media daily through blogs / postings and social media, exactly what I was experiencing in the field.  Each night I would send rudimentary notes and pictures and videos. Tom would then turn them into blogs and then post them to my website.

Let me know if you would like to read any or all of these documents : my trip report, the paper I wrote about the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation (Kwakiutl), or my paper on planning for this trip.

Honor Bestowed: Becoming a member of the Prestigious Explorers Club

 In April of this year, I received word that I had been accepted into The Explorers Club. As if this wasn’t enough of an honor, In September, I was appointed Membership Chair of the Texas Chapter of the club. I then had the privilege of sponsoring one of my mentors and a hero of mine, Susan Conrad, to become a Fellow of the club. It was my way of returning the favor for all she has done for me.

Staying Ready: Staying fit and equipping myself

You might wonder how at my age, I prepare myself and equip myself to tackle these adventures. To start with I kayak or canoe frequently all year long with a group of 6 others that I lead. This year, I have paddled 23 times so far, covering 114 miles. I work out (walking, hiking, treadmill, swimming, flexibility & strength training) and track my progress daily.

I admit it! I am a gear junkie. However, the gear I have was purchased for recreational hiking and camping. Going on the types of adventures I now do requires refitting some of my gear and clothing. This year I invested in raingear for the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Canadian Provinces climate. Arc’teryx is one of my go-to brands. I also bought new hiking boots from them. And I also have a camp hooded jacket that I wore on this and last year’s Inside Passage trips. Thanks to Tom McGuire, I discovered pants for land-based exploring in cold weather. I bought several pairs from Duluth Trading Company.

Susan Conrad put me on to Exped branded gear. I bought an Ultra 5R (very well insulated) sleeping pad and a pillow. While my North Face sleeping bag is adequate, it is heavy and too bulky to use in kayak-camping. To pair with the pad, I invested in a Revelation 10⁰ down sleeping quilt from Enlighted Equipment. This lightweight quilt (950 fill) compresses well and easily fits in the hatch of my kayak.

Lastly, as my explorations take me deeper into off-grid locales, I bought and used a Garmin inReach Mini 2 device. This gives me the ability to have an SOS button for emergencies. I am also covered by the Explorers Club with rescue & evacuation insurance through Global Rescue.

Looking Ahead: What do I hope to do next year

I turned 80 in November, but I am not ready to throw in the towel yet. I have some ideas and believe I can accomplish all of these:

• In January, the Explorers Club is sponsoring a certification three-day Wilderness First Aid course I will be attending at Lake Georgetown.
• In April, Mei Ling and I will be attending the annual meeting of The Explorers Club in New York City. We have purchased our tickets.
• Tom McGuire and I are planning an exploration of Indigenous rock art in the Lower Pecos River valley of far south Texas.
• My local paddling group and I are planning a couple of multi-day kayaking trips. Venues being considered are Caddo Lake Wilderness Area in East Texas, the entire length of Lake Austin (22 miles) – a section on the Colorado River, Matagorda Bay on the Gulf Coast of Texas
• A trip to either Alaska or The Northwest Territories. This would not entail camping or even kayaking but more civil ways of exploring.

Sadly, I don’t see how I can continue exploring the Inside Passage. There isn’t a guide service for the last section of the Canadian Portion or Southeast Alaska that I could hire. I am told by some guides that I don’t have the stamina for week-long or more adventures. We will see if I prove them wrong.

Until next time,
Bob Rein, MN’24
The Explorers Club